Berlinde De Bruyckere’s work is figurative and therefore very recognisable, but underneath this first layer lies a powerful, poetic visual language. In search of a translation of the vulnerable moment when two beings are one, De Bruyckere unites opposites such as life and death, love and suffering, and cruelty and tenderness within one image. Her vocabulary includes blankets, equine anatomy, distorted bodies and antlers in wax. The shapes and materials with which she works have been consistently chosen for their metaphorical power. Berlinde De Bruyckere is a key figure within the contemporary art landscape in Belgium but has also achieved international recognition for her unique oeuvre.
